05-02-08

This article was written and created by John Bender. If you have not seen John's "Switch" video, download it here. Also check out John's switch to Canada Website. http://bantha.cjb.net

1.Canada..consecutively ranked the best place to live

The United Nations releases a series of annual reports called the Human Development Reports. Canada almost always makes the top 5, is almost always ranked two or three higher than the United States and was ranked #1 for seven years in a row in the 90's. If it were a sport, one would call that a Legacy.

2.Humane health care system

Although many would argue that Canada's health care system is not free, tell that to Joe Lunchbox who gets laid off when the American corporate office decides to close his plant. While he's looking for work, he can rest assured knowing if his wife or kids get sick, the hospital bills are paid.Â Indeed, health care comes out of our taxes and, admittedly, it is a large portion. Nor is it perfect a system - it needs reform and more money. But I like knowing that my family and I, regardless of our economic situation, will always have our health. And, unlike most of our American counterparts, we care about our poor and our Joe Lunchboxes.

3."US.Lite"-tastes great,less filling

Leaving the United States doesn't mean giving up your favourite TV shows, movies, clothing, lifestyle and car. Canada has almost everything the States has, materially. We get your TV (and some radio) stations beamed into our homes and we see the same movies in our theatres. That's why we know more about you than you know about us - it's an advantage! We also have more than two parties to choose from in our elections.

In fact, Canada is pretty much the United States without the Bush Administration, capital punishment, the need for capital punishment, screwy vote-counting, and the liability/responsibility with having a nuclear arsenal. The U.S. is past its prime anyhow.

4.More democratic.America prides itself in being the "leader of the Western World, leader of the free nations." The cornerstone of this being Democracy, something the Vikings of Iceland created in the world's first parliament in 930 A.D. Truely, the Constitution was a wonderful leap forward for human development, individual rights and this advanced form of goverment.

Despite this, the United States has been ranked 10th by World Audit in a list of democracies. Sure, Canada is #9 - but lookie why we're one above the States: corruption.Oil, shady trading and rigged elections will lower that score.

5.Fewer enemies

In its effort to punish countries that "threaten world peace" (see: 1, 2, 3) the United States has earned the disrespect (and hatred in extreme cases) of many countries of the world. In the viscious and cowardly attacks of the World Trade Center in New York City, many thousands of people died because of this.The government and media portray the United States as an innocent bystander subjected to the discriminate wrath of a terrorist organization. In fact, it is a result of the political (and, arguably, religious) decision to politically and militarily support one side of the Middle East Peace Process when objectivity is paramount. Just like being attacked by the Japanese on December 7th, 1941 while claiming neutrality and running munitions and supplies to Great Britain, there is a cause and effect.

Not myself, nor Canada is here to judge this decision to be right or wrong, it's just a decision that has consequences.

And Canada is just here. Many don't even know we're here - and that's ok with us. Those that do know, know Canada has done her part and don't hold it against her.

6.Free press.less propaganda

Perhaps we mean a more free press. You see, Reporters Without Borders ranked the United States 17th of 139 countries, ranking just one above "communist" Hong Kong. Canada came in at a respectable number 5, number 2 if you include the fact that the first five are a tie.

What does that say about the United States? the land of the free and home of the brave? When critizing other countries for propaganda and subversion, back it up with some credibility. And learn how to filter through the media bias.

7.Room to stretch out

As the world's second largest country, Canada weighs in with over 9,093,507 square kilometres of land (roughly 3,031,169 square miles) with a population just under 31 million. That's a population density of 3.1 per square kilometre, compared to 29.4 in the United States. It has the largest coastline of any country with access to the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic Oceans.

8.Increase your saving account by 50%How would you like your savings account to grow by 50% with no charges, no fees and no wait? With the current US-Canada exchange rate, the money you bring into Canada instantly increases by over 50%!

9.No need to learn a new language.

but you can!

Canada is a bilingual country, speaking English and French. This is because Canada is the country in which two of history's biggest rivals learned to coexist. And that's something to honour, cherish and be proud of.

So you don't need to learn a new language to enter Canada, with the exception of some colloqualisms and slang such as 2-4, tuque, loonie, toonie, Tim's, chesterfield and eh.

French is spoken primarily in the province of Quebec and a large portion of New Brunswick, but is also deeply rooted in the Ontario city (and federal capital) of Ottawa, which lies right on the border of Quebec. All (most) street and federal signage, documents and material goods display both French and English.

10.It's beautiful

Canada is home to some of the most magnificent scenery on the planet. From jagged mountains to prairies, ancient forests to gorgeous rocky shorelines, Canada has it all.

It's also home to about 25% of the world's fresh water supply. And although we send our cold fronts into the States in return for smog and acid rain, we otherwise have little to no pollution in the air we breathe.

Our life expectancy is almost two years longer than the United States. What would you do with those extra two years?